Thursday, April 21, 2016

Clinton campaign teases idea of all female Democratic ticket in 2016.

If Hillary Clinton scores the Democratic nomination for president, she’d be shattering a major glass ceiling. But her campaign indicated that she could make history again by choosing a woman as her running mate.

“We’ll start with a broad list [of potential vice presidential candidates] and then begin to narrow it,” Clinton 2016 chairman John Podesta told The Boston Globe. “But there is no question that there will be women on that list.”

Clinton had previously indicated that they wouldn’t rule out a female veep, but this is the campaign’s strongest stance on the matter so far.

Yes, yes, yes!

Now indulge me while I once again lay out my favorite scenario for the Democrats to hold onto office beyond 2020.

First she chooses Elizabeth Warren as her running mate reengaging the Sanders's supporters who really wanted Elizabeth Warren all along.

Second she improves the policies of President Obama, including beefing up the Affordable Care act and improving the economy.

Thirdly she declares late in 2019 that she will not seek reelection in 2020, and instead will back a presidential run by her VP, Elizabeth Warren.

And fourth Warren wins, and then after that we are in untested waters and all bets are off.

Now I know that many of you see multiple flaws with this idea, and I admit that it seems like a stretch to suggest that it is even plausible at this point.

However keep a few things in mind.

Hillary Clinton is literally despised by half of the country, and every single misstep or perceived misstep she makes as President will only increase that number making her reelection in 2020 very, very unlikely.

Also take into account that a party getting more than three terms in office back to back has not happened for over sixty years.

The ONLY way that Hillary could possibly win a second term is if the GOP nominates a candidate along the lines of a Ted Cruz or Louis Gohmert. And even then it would be closer than I think we want to imagine.

However Elizabeth Warren completely changes the dynamic in a way that I think makes her almost a sure bet. After all she is a fresh face, with an energized base, and the kind of intellectual Ninjutsu that makes her a more than formidable opponent against whoever the Republicans can cajole, bribe, or threaten into facing off against her.

Anyhow that is my dream, and dammit I am going to cling to it until there is absolutely no hope of it every coming true.

Gryphen is free to hold his own opinion about Bernie, just as we all are. It's also his blog and he is free to write his opinions. And while I'd hold my nose and vote Bernie, I am convinced Hilary will be the more effective President.... and we have to give her a Democratic Congress.

If Hillary becomes so hated by 2020, why on Earth would her VP be electable that year if she declined to run for reelection? It's pretty misogynistic to assume at this point in time that she would lose a bid for a second term.

This is non-news. Not a single one of the candidates could possible say "no women will be considered for vice-president". They HAVE to say they will consider a woman, but whether they would actually select a woman is totally different.

@2:16I am commenting on the fact that although this is reported as "news", it is simply not the case that any candidate can say "I won't consider a woman for vice-president".

The political reality in the USA today is that candidates must try to appear even-handed with regard to women in public office.

It would be genuine "news" if a candidate said "there are no women on my short list (for VEEP) and there never will be". Many candidates (past and present) would not consider a woman but saying that is political suicide.

Hillary's approval rating was 66% in 2011 and 69% when she left her position as Secretary of State. There are many who 'detest' her but it's not near 50%. Her current negative approval is due to the ridiculously negative media coverage, more than any other candidate. I think she can overcome this once she focuses on the national campaign.

I'm with you Gryphen. Hillary could do one or two terms depending on a million unknowns. It may be Warren's best opportunity for the presidency, if she wants it. I hope the Clinton campaign doesn't overthink this thing and pick a sad sack male for veep.

Yes! A thousand times yes. It.Is.Time. Why not? Hillary Clinton is the most qualified candidate on the national stage right now. Elizabeth Warren is right there, too. Why not?? Smart, qualified candidates who just happen to be female.

I'm trying to ignore this speculation as I will literally lose my shit with excitement if this happens! But I don't want to get my hopes up so I'm just "keep on swimming, keep on swimming" and ignoring the psychotic GOP elephant in the room!

We know how old Clinton is because she's been in the public eye since the 1990's and her age has been widely reported. From what I read in the IM comments, I don't think many of you realize she's basically the same age as Clinton. Warren will be 67 in June, born in 1949.

So you're going to waste Warren's remaining time as VP instead of in the Senate?

Warren will NOT be president. First, she doesn't want it. Second, after Hillary's first term Warren will be 70. She will be attacked for her age (because men are given some slack but not women) and will NEVER be president. Plus as VP she will have squandered 4 years of her life when she could have been effective as a Senator.

BUT I do think that insofar as a woman is able and amazing, THAT is actually why she is deep-down hated. I don't understand it, but I see it all around us. Just as Pres Obama's obvious superior abilities is one huge cause of people hating him: they just can't stand it that he's waaaaaaaay more able than some ole white fart (of either gender) who cheats and has a same-sex hankering, and then wishes to impose those bankrupt "family values" on us.

I do love Warren. But, to say that Hillary can't possibly win two terms is just dumb. Lots of things factor in to a presidential win. Especially foreign countries who are acting out. If a foreign country is threatening us, and the president shuts that whole thing down (:-D), that president is going to win the election. Nobody wants to even think of a newbie.

Julian Castro would be a brilliant selection as Hillary's VP. He is young and bright. Hillary has plenty of experience to handle the Presidency and Julian would be able to learn from the best for when Hillary's terms as President are up.

You vet a VP like you do a president and Castro is not qualified to be president. What if Hillary dies her second day in office? You've got "young and bright" Julian Castro as the democratic version of George Bush.

Hillary would do better with Al Franken. More experience and the Bernie supporters would flock to him as the VP nominee.

Julian Castro would serve up Texas( even if Cruz gets the GOP nod), NM, AZ, and CA on a silver platter with the Hispanic vote. He can be VP for 2 terms then has enough youth to be in office for 2 terms of his own.Al ( and I like and know Al) cannot offer up anything except the already blue state of Minnesota.And Julian is qualified to be president as any of the other names being thrown around. Or is it because he has brown skin that has you all wee wee'd up?

I've had enough of Texans of any political persuasion in the White House.

Bernie's supporters will support Hillary if Al Franken is on the ticket. No guarantee with some unknown called Julian Castro. And yes, for most of this country it's Julian Who? just like it was Sarah who? when McCain nominated Palin.

And no, he is NOT qualified and there is no guarantee he would have one or two terms to "learn on the job". Clinton could die the day after her inauguration. He isn't qualified to be president so he's not qualified to be V.P.

There is also no guarantee he would deliver Texas or any other state. You think just because he's hispanic he'd get the Latin vote? Like just because Carson was black he would automatically get the Black vote? Is Hillary really going to get all of the Women vote? Like Sarah Palin did?

How many years has Julian been in the Senate? Been Governor? He was a mayor and on the city council. So was Sarah Palin. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development? Those are his creds?

Sorry but no.

Plus NO MORE TEXANS! Enough with politicians from Texas. They can't get their own state's shit together and they think they can run this country?

"In April 2016 Castro was criticized by various community, Democratic, and progressive political groups for facilitating the sale of thousands of foreclosed houses to Wall Street firms at steep discounts. More than 98% of the recently-sold homes were sold to Wall Street firms."

In April, the Bernie campaign did a pre-emptive hit on Julian Castro to try to damage Hillary. They ARE DISGUSTING. I wish they'd vet Bernie with the same vigor they like to scorch the earth. For some reason, all the anomalies in his personal history AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, his voting record, do not bother them one whit. He's the NRA's boy but they brush that aside. His wife is on a paid board in Texas for the dumping of toxic waste from NH to a poorer section of TX, but that's a-okay with Bernie supporters. #SierraBlanca. Bernie took $10,000 of support from a Hillary PAC for his last Senate run & that's peachy keen with this supporter.

They have no ideological consistency and I do not trust their judgment nor his.

@ MIaI could really care less about you as a berniebot, you have already stated you will never vote for Hillary no matter what. But let me tell you one thing, you white people will not decide this presidential election or any in the future, it's a new world get used to it. This election will be won by 2 things, the southern black vote that Hillary already has and the Hispanic vote that is up for grabs.

Not a Berniebot. Simply offended but all the Bernie bashing and Hillary worship.

And never said I wouldn't vote for Hillary if it's a choice between her and whatever clown the GOP puts forth.

I have said I will write Bernie in if I am denied the right to vote for him in the primaries.

I have said I resent the DNC stacking the deck and deciding who will be the nominee before the voters choose and basically controlling the process so their chosen one can win despite the primaries. That's what the Superdelegates are for.

Both parties have rigged the process.

The Democrats won't need to court the Hispanic vote if Drumpf is the nominee.

They will need to court the Bernie supporters if Kasich is the nominee. They need the youth vote and Independents.

Secretary Hillary Clinton needs to seriously consider Gov/VP Candidate Sarah Palin as her 2016 running mate. Gov Palin will bring her conservative views to the administration as well as her executive experience as governor of the largest state in the union.

Let's talk Hillary and her choices/judgement...When Bill Clinton was president, he allowed Hillary to assume authority over a health care reform. Even after threats and intimidation, she couldn’t even get a vote in a democrat-controlled congress. This fiasco cost the American taxpayers about $13 million in cost for studies, promotion, and other efforts.Then President Clinton gave Hillary authority over selecting a female attorney general. Her first two selections were Zoe Baird and Kimba Wood – both were forced to withdraw their names from consideration. Next she chose Janet Reno – husband Bill described her selection as “my worst mistake.” Some may not remember that Reno made the decision to gas David Koresh and the Branch Davidian religious sect in Waco, Texas resulting in dozens of deaths of women and children.Husband Bill allowed Hillary to make recommendations for the head of the Civil Rights Commission. Lani Guanier was her selection. When a little probing led to the discovered of Ms. Guanier’s radical views, her name had to be withdrawn from consideration.Apparently a slow learner, husband Bill allowed Hillary to make some more recommendations. She chose former law partners Web Hubbel for the Justice Department, Vince Foster for the White House staff, and William Kennedy for the Treasury Department. Her selections went well: Hubbel went to prison, Foster (presumably) committed suicide, and Kennedy was forced to resign.Many younger votes will have no knowledge of “Travelgate.” Hillary wanted to award unfettered travel contracts to Clinton friend Harry Thompson – and the White House Travel Office refused to comply. She managed to have them reported to the FBI and fired. This ruined their reputations, cost them their jobs, and caused a thirty-six month investigation. Only one employee, Billy Dale was charged with a crime, and that of the enormous crime of mixing personal and White House funds. A jury acquitted him of any crime in less than two hours. Still not convinced of her ineptness, Hillary was allowed to recommend a close Clinton friend, Craig Livingstone, for the position of Director of White House security. When Livingstone was investigated for the improper access of about 900 FBI files of Clinton enemies (Filegate) and the widespread use of drugs by White House staff, suddenly Hillary and the president denied even knowing Livingstone and, of course, denied knowledge of drug use in the White House. Following this debacle, the FBI closed its White House Liaison Office after more than thirty years of service to seven presidents.

Next, when women started coming forward with allegations of sexual harassment and rape by Bill Clinton, Hillary was put in charge of the “bimbo eruption” and scandal defense. Some of her more notable decisions in the debacle were: • She urged her husband not to settle the Paula Jones lawsuit. After the Starr investigation they settled with Ms. Jones. • She refused to release the Whitewater documents, which led to the appointment of Ken Starr as Special Prosecutor. After $80 million dollars of taxpayer money was spent, Starr's investigation led to Monica Lewinsky, which led to Bill lying about and later admitting his affairs.Hillary’s devious game plan resulted in Bill losing his license to practice law for 'lying under oath' to a grand jury and then his subsequent impeachment by the House of Representatives.Hillary avoided indictment for perjury and obstruction of justice during the Starr investigation by repeating, “I do not recall,” “I have no recollection,” and “I don’t know” a total of 56 times while under oath.After leaving the White House, Hillary was forced to return an estimated $200,000 in White House furniture, china, and artwork that she had stolen.What a swell party – ready for another four or eight year of this type low-life mess? Now we are exposed to the destruction of possibly incriminating e-mails while Hillary was Secretary of State and the “pay to play” schemes of the Clinton Foundation – we have no idea what shoe will fall next. But to her loyal fans - “what difference does it make?”And just think, since leaving the White House, the Clinton's, through 2014, have made $221,139,576.00 and BOTH are drawing taxpayer funded U. S. Government pensions.

I haven't read the comments above yet, but your first point assuming that Bernie supporters really wanted Warren instead of Bernie to run is a little off base, at least for me and the other Bernie supporters that I know both in person and online.

Lots of Sanders supporters throw out Warren as proof that it's not ALL women they dislike for President, only Clinton. They certainly went after Warren when she dared not endorse Sanders, calling her a sellout, bought and paid for, shill, etc. etc. I guess Warren hasn't passed the Sanders purity test.

As long as we're dreaming here, I would like to add that the House and Senate go Democratic and Nancy Pelosi regains her position as Speaker. We'll let a male Democrat assume control of the Senate. LOL.

I do not see Hillary, if president, running for a second term. Always thought that. Although I do believe a Clinton-Warren ticket is a dream, the scenario you offer, Gryph, makes the dream so very delicious.

Warren is too important at her current position. She would be too limited as a VP. And Progressives need her to hold Clinton to some of her campaign promises that may be a bit too inconvenient to follow through on. Now Warren INSTEAD of Clinton is more like it, but that's not in the cards. Keep her in the Senate, she can run in 2020 with Feingold.

Sanders’ team plans to fight for superdelegates even if Hillary Clinton wins the popular vote.

WASHINGTON — A day after Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) lost the New York primary election that he desperately needed to win, there were no signs that he would dial back his campaign against Hillary Clinton before the Democratic convention in July.

Mark Longabaugh, a top aide to the senator, told The Huffington Post that Sanders is prepared to stay in the race even if it becomes clear that Clinton has a majority of the pledged delegates and an insurmountable lead after the final primary on June 7.....

“We intend to go to the convention and make the superdelegates vote,” Longabaugh said....

1. Elizabeth Warren isn't going to consent to be a Vice President. If she was interested in leaving the Senate, where she says she is most valuable and I agree, she would have run for president on her own. VP is a step down from where she is now in terms of effectiveness.

2. Hillary Clinton is 68. She'll be 72 if she runs for a second term. Elizabeth Warren is 66. She'll be 70 if she runs after only one term by Hillary. That is NOT going to happen.

3. No other woman would be as valuable on the ticket and plenty of men who might vote for Hillary will bawk at two women on the ticket. It only weakens her position.

4.. She is going to need to draw those Bernie supporters (no matter what you say) and any woman besides Elizabeth Warren will NOT do that. Neither will Julien Castro. In fact the only two candidates that will bring her the most support from the Bernie supporters are Bernie himself (hardly valuable after all that bashing) in the VP spot or...Al Franken. I am a huge fan of Al Franken and would love to see him in the VP spot if only to run for President after however many terms of his predecessor are over. Al Franken is only 64. He'd be 68 after Hillary's first term and 72 after her second term. Not a deal breaker as men are given more slack over age then women are. Franken would keep the Bernie supporters in the fold and might draw some of the Independents as he's not considered a Washington insider. Plus he is smart and personable and has more experience in the senate than Elizabeth Warren.

Why would Sanders supporters balk at any other woman aside from Warren? Is she the only woman they could possible see being qualified to be VP? Personally, I judge a person based on their qualifications, not their sex. I though the progressive people who support Bernie Sanders would feel the same.

I'm being a little snarky, but I'm really thrown by the idea that "any woman besides Elizabeth Warren will NOT...draw those Bernie supporters."

They wouldn't balk at any other women. They are concerned about the substance of views by the candidates. That is why they are supporting Bernie. They won't swallow lip service either. It would have to be someone they believe holds the same values they do and why they are supporting Bernie. Warren is the only woman I can think of that meets those criteria.

There is no guarantee they would support anyone. They have been unpredictable. His support by the youth to the degree he has generated was a surprise to everyone. They may simply stay home no matter who Hillary puts on the ticket. There is no way to know. Even if Bernie concedes and supports Hillary his supporters may not. Bernie got them fired up with his message and his sincerity and they aren't just going to take one for the team and switch their loyalties automatically because they are liberals or progressives or Democrats. They may not be any of those things. They may not follow blindly whoever the DNC decides is going to be the nominee. My fear is that if there is too much manipulation and hanky panky in the nomination process they may simply wash their hands of the entire thing and stay home. That is the danger of this pre-determined manipulation of the done-deal-nominee.

So, basically, these Sanders supporters are practicing political blackmail. The rest of us are willing to compromise, but not the pure and good Sanders supporters. THEY transcend politics. They have a higher calling. THEY are above the fray.

@mliauppa - I disagree with you (I'm for HRC) but good for you for engaging in polite political discussion here. I have read your comments for years on Gryph's blog and I am glad you are still posting here. Thank you.

There is an assumption that Bernie supporters would vote if he were not on the ticket or endorsed Hillary.

Many of his supporters are youth who have never voted. There is the very real danger that if they feel the DNC has sold them out or that the process is corrupt, they just won't bother to vote like they already haven't bothered to vote.

Bernie has energized and motivated them. The VP pick is going to need to keep that energy and motivation. There are very few choices that would accomplish that. Julian Castro is not one of them. Al Franken probably has the best chance if he's be willing to take it.

Since all of the female Democratic senators have already backed Clinton (except Warren who hasn't endorsed anyone yet), putting any female in the VP spot isn't going to bring in the Bernie supporters either.

Jane Sanders maybe you can talk some sense into your husband. His ship has run aground and now it is time for him to retire and spend time with you and his grandkids.

Tell Bernie he should have history remember him for what he has accomplished so far and not for what is waiting for him ahead if he continues to go forth and destroy the Democratic Party.

FoxNews:Is Bernie Sanders now running a who-cares campaign?

Hillary Clinton said Thursday she wouldn’t tell Bernie Sanders to drop out of the Democratic primary race, but that’s not stopping her supporters and some liberal groups, who see the Vermont senator’s continued presence as an impediment to Clinton uniting the party.

A New York Times opinion piece on Wednesday declared “Sanders has done all he can do” and even ultra-liberal website Salon.com had a headline the same day blaring “Bernie has run his course.” Privately, Clinton aides gloated and disparaged Sanders anonymously to Politico after Clinton resoundingly won New York’s Tuesday primary, 58-42 percent. But Clinton herself has resisted telling Sanders to step aside....

Even some of his advisers have signaled a reckoning is approaching.

“If we get to a position in a week or two where our path to victory with pledged delegates doesn’t look credible, I think we’ll need to stand up and say that in public, and then assess how we can get that lead in delegates,” senior adviser Tad Devine told The New York Times.

So, why press on?....

“I think he has essentially done what he got in the race to do, and now is the best time to leave,” said Lara Brown, an associate professor and program director at the Graduate School of Political Management at George Washington University.

“If he continues, he will only further engender frustration among Democratic Party officials and all of those individuals who are engaged at the super delegate level. And what he’s now achieving is really only his own desire to finish, and be in a position where he could protest or engage in some form of minority delegate platform negotiation at the convention.”

Brown told FoxNews.com that the Democratic Party would be better off if Sanders suspended now and “negotiated from a point of graciousness,” Brown described Clinton’s eventual embrace of Obama in 2008 as the model for how a party primary ends.

“I think the Democrats hope that [Sanders] will look at 2008 as the model,” Brown said. “And I think [Clinton] did put that out there to say, ‘Sen. Sanders, even if you fight this out to the end, I hope you will be with me in the end.’”

Obama's despised by half the country, and I think he's accomplished a lot, especially when you consider that the repugs announced that they would make him a one-term President. Didn't seem to slow him down much.

About Me

This blog is dedicated to finding the truth, exposing the lies, and holding our politicians and leaders accountable when they fall far short of the promises that they have made to both my fellow Alaskans and the American people.